Trailblazing political-feminist artist Nil Yalter has received one of the most prestigious awards in art, along with Brazilian artist Anna Maria Maiolino. Yalter has been chosen for this accolade by the Venice Biennale because of her influence and enduring contribution to contemporary art. RCQ had the opportunity to talk to Yalter, amid the flurry of attention she is receiving with this latest news.
Yalter’s interest in art manifested itself from an early age and was fully encouraged by her parents. Indeed, a set of art books her father brought her from abroad is one of Yalter’s most treasured possessions. Yalter recalls her youth in Turkey as a period when there was little chance to access art, a lack that became the impetus for her moving out of Turkey. Following a year and a half in India, she settled in Paris for life, and that is when a deep nostalgia for her own country and culture set in. She started exploring her roots through her art: “We were very Europeanized in Turkey. Our own culture did not interest us, as we were growing up. I lacked knowledge on my own culture, and this lack propelled me to make my first important work, “Topak Ev/Yurt”. I discovered the mixed nature of my own culture in Paris, and I tried to explain it to the world through my pieces. Of course, I had other influences as well like Russian constructivism, and I consider Cezanne to be my master. In Paris I discovered pop art, minimalist art and met many artists like Robert Rauschenberg. I had no formal education in art, so going to museums and galleries became my education.
Yalter recalls her time at ACG fondly, particularly teacher Hillary Sumner-Boyd’s influence and her role as Desdemona to Engin Cezzar’s Hamlet: “Literature was taught very well, theater and philosophy were good, but Turkish history, geography, literature not so much. Luckily, women were not taught about being a good wife; that was a big plus. English teachers were in fact feminists. I learned freedom at ACG and from my family, and that is why I was able to leave. I went on learning freedom as a woman, as there are different kinds of freedoms.”
Yalter says she was proud and happy to receive the award but finds the attention pouring in a bit overwhelming. She continues to produce art, using technology to create new work from her old work. As she was one of the pioneers of the use of video in art, her continued use of technology is not surprising. In fact, she says she likes working with the iPhone. Nonetheless, she states that she does not want to be invaded or dominated by technology. Hence, she does not use social media and is on the fence about artificial intelligence.
Published December 2023
